Kramer's dojo (ii)

When I was first entering the field I thought it was mediocre. I saw established people giving plot summaries in conferences. I had internalized a certain standard by working at Stanford and through my own reading, and I did not find that standard at work in the field I was going to enter. I'm sure that arrogant attitude cost me some potential friends. I knew that I didn't know everything; in fact, I knew I had a lot left to learn, but I also knew it would be pretty easy for me to get a foothold in the field without knowing all that much yet.

I always wanted to set a standard for my field. I just wish I had known how to do it as a younger person without all that arrogance, without the Kramer's dojo syndrome.

I'm still trying to shed some arrogance and anger.

The Seinfeld Chain

For this technique you need a calendar and a red marker. Every day you work on your project put a red X on that day, in your calendar. Try to keep the chain going as long as possible. 8 days, 30 days, 100 days. If you break the chain by not working a particular day, just start again. Imagine Jerry Seinfeld's voice in your head saying "Don't break the chain!"

I used this technique to write Apocryphal Lorca. i worked from August 1 to Christmas without breaking the chain. Obviously I'm not a normal person, but this technique might work for you if you have a hard time with continuity of effort. Even a few months of chains of 5 or 8 days apiece will produce results beyond your wildest imaginings.

If you do break a chain, do it for only 1 or 2 days at a time. That way you can take days or weekends off but without losing continuity.

Kramer's dojo

On one particular episode of Seinfeld, Kramer joins a karate dojo. We learn that he is rising to the top and winning fights against all the other fighters in the dojo. He seems childishly proud of himself. It isn't until somewhat later in the episode when we are brought inside the karate studio and we see that all the other students there are all children. Finally, at the end of the episode, the children corner Kramer in the street to take their revenge.

You have to size up your competition. It does no good to prove points against obviously weak positions. If you are around dumb people you will play down to their level. If everyone you are in dialogue with is that inferior, then choose a different conversation.